5th August 2010

Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias and Sapphira.

• "Appearances are deceptive"
• And those on a mission must choose what they pass on.
• Here a married couple are punished not because they kept some of the money, what they gave was very generous. They were punished because of their motive. Their motive for giving was to make a good impression rather than the more important authentic reasons that are required when giving to God.
• This story is quite shocking.
• But why?
• The reality is that the Bible is full of people being punished [and rewarded] for their actions. So why does this appear to be a little more outrageous than most other stories?
• I think it is because of timing.
• Normally God’s punishments and rewards are delayed. What is a little surprising here is God’s instant chastisement. Why does God react so quickly?
• Because appearances are deceptive.
• The church had just been born and if the couple had appeared to have gotten away with this then it could have led the Church into sin. Galatians teaches us; “God cannot be mocked, you reap what you sow”. Imagine that, a church where appearances are more important than reality.
• Yet is that not what has happened over the years?
• Christianity has become a brand.
• Sometimes we have to make the choice between being a Christian and following Jesus.
• Being a Christian can mean going along with the things that the brand now stands for. Fitting in. It can lead, as in Ananias and Sapphira’s case, to us doing things for appearance sake rather than with a spirit of authenticity.
• Follow Jesus is impossible without being real.
• Following Jesus costs us but being a Christian does not.
• It’s a difficult choice.